Broken Vanishing Point

[watch_art]

my pilot vp is broken on the metal nose cone.

 

picture the two holes the clip fits in.

under one of the holes the metal is broken all the way to the barrel. the clip can swing quite wide in one direction.

 

can i send this to pilot?

 

got the pen in a trade.

don't even know how old it is.

 

will they charge me a bunch of money to fix it or is this something that's considered a manufacturing defect?

 

anybody seen a break in this spot before?

 

pics later. too tired to bother tonight.

 

good night.

[USMCMom]

I don't know anything about that type of pen, but could this be what you need?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Parker-VP-14kt-Gold-Replacement-Fountain-Pen-Nib-Fine-/350320488442?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5190ba6ffa

[Pippin60]

I've never had a problem with my VP's or any of my Pilot Namiki pens but I believe the warranty is 3 years . A broken clip may not be covered, but I assume the pen is still usable? Many actually hate the location of the clip on the VP. It may also be possible to replace or find a new section. My link

[watch_art]

Yeah it's still usable, but it's nagging at me. I mean, it's BROKEN, and I'm really annoyed by it. Especially because I don't know how long it's been there. Any parts out there?

[watch_art]

So can I contact Pilot and buy just a nose cone? Or would I have to buy a whole section? That would probably be ridiculously expensive.

[USMCMom]

Might be worth a try.

[Scylla]

The metal nose cone came free of my VP. I sent it back to Pilot and they either fixed it or sent me a new one. I couldn't tell. I was very happy with the service. Try sending it to them for repairs.

[watch_art]

Sounds good. Thanks.

[watch_art]

here's the break just to show ya...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/5129568476_b3884849b6_b.jpg

022 by watch_art2010, on Flickr

[watch_art]

whoa, double post. whoops. finally got the nose off last night. boy the insides are ugly. No way you could use it without the nose on there except as a stay-at-home pen b/c you'd end up knocking the spring off in your pocket. pics tonight. but I think i'm gonna try to solder the crack from the inside and leave the clip off.

[watch_art]

pics!

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1199/5138216676_5fa8b1af53.jpg

action by watch_art2010, on Flickr

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1176/5138216370_61e8f5f955.jpg

springs by watch_art2010, on Flickr

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1073/5138216524_830a2d7436.jpg

barrel by watch_art2010, on Flickr

[alvarez57]

Watch art:

 

I have a similar problem but unlike you, I don't repair pens. Do you have the address where I could send the pens to get fixed?

 

 

 

http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/45123/2073053110105226730S425x425Q85.jpg

 

 

Ouch! Notice that it is a thin metal cover with a [brittle] plastic inside.

Edited November 13, 2010 by alvarez57

[watch_art]

HOLY COW! Did you drop it? Why is it so full of lint?

 

I haven't contacted Pilot yet. I suppose I should.

[alvarez57]

Well, actually I'm doing a favor to my nurse (finding where to send the pen). Yup! She dropped it and also had it in her coat pocket afterward.

 

I urged her to always store the pen in a case. Is it easy to contact Pilot as opposed to Platinum???

[watch_art]

here are pics... and a video.

 

rubber bands gave me something to feel for to find the top since the clip was gone. i was always holding it sideways. this pen is useless without the clip.

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1042/5177454023_e53441862f.jpg

002 by watch_art, on Flickr

 

another shot apart

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1337/5178058074_4d0147f7ba.jpg

003 by watch_art, on Flickr

 

all done. not symmetrical by any means, but feels better than it did even before it broke.

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1373/5177454273_b0679ff469.jpg

012 by watch_art, on Flickr

 

here's the video:

[watch_art]

Emailed Namiki USA and got the response that it would be $75 to replace the nose cone/clip on my pen. YIKES.

 

Here's their contact info

 

Pilot Corporation of America

Namiki Repair Service

3855 Regent Blvd

Jacksonville , FL 32224

 

 

Here's the lady I talked to...

Melissa Hugger

Consumer Advisor

From: "Hugger, Melissa" <MHugger@pilotpen.com>

Edited December 1, 2010 by watch_art

[gkterry]

You can buy a complete body for a VP for $77 from Richard Binder.

[rudyhou]

OUCH!!

[Plusfoursmax]

I have just done the same to my VP; the spring/trapdoor/rubber grommet fell out one morning, after constant use (but it had been dropped onto its nose about 4 years ago, so I am not surprised.

I tried to remove the nose cone, as per Richard Binder's instructions, but I over squeezed and under heated, and cracked the nose.

I left it a day, then had another go, and with MUCH more heat, was able to extract the nose with not more damage. I am debating whether to solder/braze fix the nose, or turn another on my little lathe.

I think I might have a go at turning first. Making it all off centre might be a challenge, but it will be fun, and anything is better than $75 (or whatever this year's price is!)

Thanks for your photos, they really helped!

Plusfours